Modeling and Predicting Trust Dynamics in Human–Robot Teaming: A Bayesian Inference Approach

Hebert Azevedo-Sa; X. Jessie Yang; Lionel Robert; Dawn M. Tilbury · 2020 · OpenAlex

DOI: 10.1007/s12369-020-00703-3

URL: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12369-020-00703-3

archive: archived pipeline: cataloged verified

Summary

Bayesian-inference model of human trust dynamics during repeated interaction with a robotic agent (Int J Soc Robotics 2021). Models trust as a Beta distribution updated from observed agent performance, encoding three empirical properties: trust persistence across moments, asymmetric weighting of negative experiences, and stabilization with repeated exposure. Validated on a published surveillance dataset of 39 participants supervising four drones; identifies three trust-dynamics archetypes (Bayesian decision maker, oscillator, disbeliever).

Key finding

A personalized Beta-distribution Bayesian model predicts moment-to-moment trust in autonomy with RMSE = 0.072, significantly outperforming prior trust-prediction methods, and reveals distinct individual trust-dynamics types relevant to adaptive automation design.

Methodology

Computational modeling: Beta-Bayesian trust update with parameters fit by Bayesian inference; reanalysis of an existing human-drone supervision dataset to compare against published trust models.

Sample size: N=39 participants (reanalyzed dataset)

Quality score: 5 / 5